At a Glance:
- Gary Neville on Max Dowman and Rio Ngumoha.
- Neville names the one he backs to go further.
- Stats compared in the Premier League.
Gary Neville named Max Dowman, Estevao Willian and Rio Ngumoha as three of the best young talents in the Premier League.
Dowman has earned rave reviews in particular since becoming a first-team player at Arsenal, considering he is still only 16 years old and is rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest stars in the country.
After Ethan Nwaneri, the Gunners attacker remains the second-youngest player to make his maiden appearance in the Premier League at 15 years and 235 years.
Impressively, the teenager has impressed at senior level almost every time he has played. So much so that John Terry complimented Dowman by claiming England should name him in their 2026 World Cup squad.
Gary Neville has now had his say on the young sensation.
Gary Neville back Max Dowman to become better than Rio Ngumoha
On Sky Sports, Neville was asked which player in the Premier League does he believe will become the ‘biggest superstar’ in the future.
Gary Neville backed Dowman over both Ngumoha and Estevao, saying “I mean, I have to say Dowman. Estevao, I really like. Ngumoha, I really like but I think Dowman is still at school.
Neville admitted that he is stunned that Dowman, who Declan Rice called “fearless” is playing Premier League football at such a young age; another reason why he believes the Englishman is destined for greatness.
“That’s just ridiculous, I can’t get my head around the fact that my daughter’s 16, I said this on commentary when I was doing the game a month or two back, he’s basically doing his GSCEs and my daughter’s doing her GCSEs and he’s played in the Premier League and that’s just not right.
“Incredible, Max Dowman, you take that one.”
- READ MORE: Gary Lineker says he would take Arsenal’s Max Dowman to the World Cup but on one condition
Max Dowman and Rio Ngumoha compared in the Premier League
England can consider themselves fortunate to have two incredible talents like Dowman and Ngumoha.
Here is how the two wonderkids’ statistics compare in the Premier League.
| Premier League stats | Max Dowman | Rio Ngumoha |
| Appearances | 4 | 15 |
| Goals | 1 | 2 |
| Assists | 1 | 0 |
Based on their careers in the Premier League so far, Ngumoha has the edge over Dowman.
However, with the latter being a year younger than the 17-year-old and in a better Arsenal side, it is easy to see why he gets sporadic opportunities.
